ISLAMABAD, June 10: Deputy chairman Planning Commission Muhammad Akram Sheikh on Saturday underlined the importance of technological advancement and linked country’s progress and prosperity to its position in science and technology.

He was speaking as chief guest at the National Engineering Robotics Contest 2006 organised by the College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. He said education was the backbone of a country and especially science and technology was the base for power, progress and development.

The future of a country was dependent on its technological advancement, said the deputy chairman. He said that even defence of a country depended on brainpower, engineering skills.

Mr Sheikh regretted that Pakistan was lagging far behind other countries in the field of science and technology. “We are at the mercy of countries which previously looked to us for technological discoveries,” he said.

Pakistan, he said, was lacking in skilled manpower. He said research and development in science and technology was vital to bridge the wide gap.

He, however, praised the Higher Education Commission for taking steps to improve the country’s position in higher education. He stressed on scientists and experts to pass on their skills to the younger generation to enable them prepare themselves for the future challenges.

Commandant E&ME College Maj-Gen Najeeb Tariq, in his address of welcome, also spoke about the significance of science and technology. Technological advancement, he said, was very central to the progress and existence of Pakistan.

“To this end, it was our collective responsibility to raise the standard of study and research in sciences and technology so that it could be brought at par with the international standards, he said. Mr Najeeb said Pakistan could not compete with developed countries unless strong ties were established between industry and educationists.

He said the E&ME College had always been at the forefront of doing projects with both defence and communal implications.

In addition to projects, our students have also performed very well in acquiring scholarships for higher studies, he said. Currently a large number of students of the college have been doing masters and doctoral degrees in various foreign universities, he added.

Highlighting importance of the robotics competitions, the commandant said such events would go a long way in inculcating the spirit of research in the students. This would enhance the technical know-how of students, he further said.

Head of mechatronics department, College of E&ME, Brig Akhtar Nawaz Malik spoke about mechatronics saying that it was fast growing discipline of engineering with widespread application in industry.

He said the main purpose of the contest was to train the youth for engineering services in Pakistan.

In the end, the chief guest gave away the prizes. The mechatronics department of the host college won the first prize equal to Rs50,000.